BREAKING Vatican Excommunicates SSPX Bishops Now in Schism with New Decree which Even Extends to Lay Faithful who Formally Adhere to the Society

Vatican Declares Excommunication After Unauthorized Lefebvrite Bishop Ordinations

The Vatican has officially declared the automatic excommunication of six traditionalist bishops following unauthorized episcopal ordinations in Switzerland.

A decree released on July 2, 2026, by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) formally defined the July 1 ceremonies as a "schismatic act." Signed by Vatican DDF Prefect Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández and co-signed by the Dicastery's secretaries, the decree outlines the severe canonical penalties triggered by the event. Even the lay faithful, those who formally adhere to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (SSPX) under certain conditions, are to be considered schismatic and excommunicated.

The Canonical Sanctions

According to the Vatican decree, the bishops involved have incurred ipso facto (by the very fact) a latae sententiae (automatic) excommunication, a penalty strictly reserved to the Apostolic See. The sanctions apply directly to:

• The Consecrators: Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta (principal consecrator) and Bishop Bernard Fellay (co-consecrator) of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (SSPX).

• The Newly Ordained: Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry, and Marc Hanappier.

The DDF ruled that by ordaining four priests into bishops without a pontifical mandate—and in direct defiance of the Supreme Pontiff—both the ordaining prelates and the newly consecrated men severed themselves from communion with Rome.

Context of the Schism

The ceremony took place on the morning of July 1, 2026, in Écône, Switzerland. The Vatican described this outcome as a "painful epilogue," noting that the leadership of the Lefebvrite movement chose to proceed despite explicit warnings and the repeatedly expressed will of Pope Leo XIV.

The decree effectively reinstates a formal separation between the SSPX leadership and the Church of Rome. Furthermore, the Vatican clarified that lay faithful who formally adhere to the Fraternity are also to be considered excommunicated.

Alongside the primary decree, the DDF published a comprehensive "Explanatory Note" detailing the canonical framework of the decision.

FULL TEXT DICASTERY FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
Prot. N. 99/2009
EXPLANATORY NOTE

From the time of Saint Paul VI until the most recent discussions held at this Dicastery, multiple attempts to bring the members of the movement initiated by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre back into full communion with the Catholic Church have proven futile. This situation has been further aggravated by recent episcopal consecrations celebrated without papal mandate, against the will of the Holy Father, in open violation of canon law. Therefore, this Dicastery, in the faithful exercise of the functions entrusted to it, deems it necessary to note that this act constituted the crime of schism, with canonical consequences for the sacred ministers and lay faithful involved. Indeed, as already declared in 1988, "such disobedience—which entails a practical rejection of the Roman Primacy—constitutes a schismatic act" (cf. John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Ecclesia De i , 3).

In this regard, from now on:


1. The sacred ministers belonging to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X are in schism and must therefore be considered schismatic (cf. Ecclesia De , 5 c; Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Explanatory Note on the excommunication for schism incurred by the adherents of the movement of Bishop Marcel Lefebvre , 24.08.1996, 5-6), resulting in them being subject to the excommunication provided for by law (can. 1364 § 1 CJC).

2. As regards the lay faithful, those who formally adhere to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X under the conditions established in the Explanatory Note of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts of 1996 (cf. ibid ., 7), still in force, which this Dicastery adopts, are to be considered schismatic and excommunicated.

3. Finally, the holy People of God are warned that the sacred ministers of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X administer the sacraments illicitly and that the sacrament of penance administered by them and the marriage assisted by them are invalid.

The Church, as a caring mother, will welcome with sincere affection and deep concern all those who wish to return to full communion. The Apostolic Nuncios will have access to the procedures that Ordinaries may use in various cases.

Finally, all the faithful are exhorted to remain firm in communion with the Roman Pontiff, with the Bishops in communion with him and with the whole Church (cf. Lumen Gentium , 22; can. 751 CIC ), and to abstain from participating in the celebrations and activities promoted by the aforementioned Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X.

From the Dicastery Building, 2 July 2026

Víctor M. Card. Fernández
Prefect

Monsignor Armando Matteo
Secretary for the Doctrinal Section

John J. Kennedy
Titular Archbishop of Ossero
Secretary for the Disciplinary Section

DICASTERY FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
Prot. N. 99/2009
DECREE

Despite the warnings addressed to the Superior General of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X, Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta, having committed an act of a schismatic nature through the episcopal consecration of four priests, without a pontifical mandate and against the will of the Supreme Pontiff, has ipso facto incurred the penalties provided for by canon 1387 and canon 1364 § 1 CIC 2021.

I therefore declare for all legal purposes that both the aforementioned Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta and Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry and Marc Hanappier have incurred ipso facto the latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.

I further declare that Bishop Bernard Fellay, having directly participated in the liturgical celebration as a co-consecrator, thus publicly adhering to the schismatic act, has incurred the latae sententiae excommunication provided for by canon 1364 § 1 CIC 2021.

Clerics and lay faithful are warned not to adhere to the schism of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X, because they would ipso facto incur the penalty of latae sententiae excommunication .

From the Dicastery Building, 2 July 2026

Víctor M. Card. Fernández
Prefect

John J. Kennedy
Titular Archbishop of Ossero
Secretary for the Disciplinary Section

Monsignor Armando Matteo
Secretary for the Doctrinal Section